i^-  d 


* 


ALUMNI  LIBRARY,  I 

THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY,    | 


(Uisc,    division. 


f0~i 


r 


^' 


w- 


THE 

rMPORTANCE  OF  MATURE  PREPARATORY  STUDY  FOR 
THE  MimSTRY: 


AN 


INTRODUCTORY  LECTURE, 

DCLIVERED 


AT  THE  OPENING  OP  THE  SUMMER  SESSION 


THEOLOGICAL.   SEMIXARY 


PBIXrOETOXf,  XTE'W-JEBSEir, 

JULY  3,  1829. 


BY  SAMUEL  MILLER,  D.  D. 

Professor  of  Eccltgiasiical  History  and  Church  Government  in  the  said 
Seminary. 


PRINCETON  PRESS: 

PRINTED  BY  BERNARD  CONNOLLY,  FOR  THE  STUDENTS  OP  THE 
XHfiOLOGICAL  SEMINARY- 

1839, 


v 


Theological  Seminary,  Princeton^  Jtiljf  10, 1829. 
REV.  AND  DEAR  SIR, 

*^t  a  meeting  of  the  Students  of  this  Insti- 
itttion,  held  on  the  1th  inst.j  it  was  unanimously 

''RESOLVED, 

"  That  a  Committee  be  appointed  to  request 
of  Dr.  Miller,  for  publication,  a  copy  of  his  introduc- 
tory LECTURE,  delivered  at  the  opening  of  the  present 
Session^ 

Influenced  by  the  conviction  that  the  subject 
of  your  Lecture,  does  not  receive  from,  those  generally 
who  are  looking  forward  to  the  ministry,  that  degree  of 
attentive  consideration  which  it  deserves  ;  and  that  the 
age  in  which  we  live,  and  the  present  state  of  the 
church,  with  a  peculiar  earnestness,  call  for  those  who 
can  contend  ably  as  well  as  earnestly,  for  the  faith  once 
delivered  to  the  saints,  and  who  can  quickly  detect  and 
clearly  expose  the  various  errors  that  now  appear 
arrayed  in  the  most  imposing  garbs  that  extensive 
knowledge  and  cultivated  intellect  can  furnish  : — deep- 
ly impressed  with  this  belief,  the  Students  are  anxious 
to  have  the  sentiments  inculcated  in  your  Lecture  widely 
disseminated  among  the  youth  of  our  church  and  7ia- 
tioji. 

With  feelings  of  unfeigned  respect, 

TVe  remain  dear  Sir, 

^Affectionately  yours, 


WILLIAM  C.  WHITE,  } 

J.H.GILLESPIE,  \  COMMITTEE. 

SAMUEL  G.  WINCHESTER.  S 


Rev.  Dr,  Miller. 


AN 

INTRODUCTORY   liECTURE, 


Beloved  Pupils, 

The  subject  to  which  I  have  resolved  to  dh-ect  your 
attention  on  the  present  occasion,  is  the  great  impor- 
tance of  candidates  for  the  holy  ministry,  going  through 
a  mature  and  adequate  course  of  professional  study, 
before  entering  on  their  public  work.  The  friends  of 
this  Institution  have  often  remarked,  with  surprize  and 
regret,  how  very  small  a  portion  of  those  who  study 
here,  can  be  prevailed  upon  to  remain  for  three  years, 
and  to  complete  the  regular  course.  Seldom,  if  ever,  I 
think,  have  we  been  able  to  persuade  as  many  as  one 
halfoS.  any  class  to  continue  their  studies  to  the  close 
of  the  prescribed  period.  Many  stay  but  half  the  usual 
time ;  others  not  more  than  a  third  part ;  and  some, 
after  spending  with  us  a  single  short  summer  session, 
have  gone  forth,  and  announced  themselves  to  the 
churches  as  pupils  of  our  Seminary.  Against  this  great, 
and,  I  fear,  undiminishing  evil,  the  Professors  have, 
from  time  to  time,  raised  the  voice  of  solemn  remon- 
strance :  the  Board  of  Directors  have,  once  and  again, 
recorded  their  pointed  testimony:  and  the  General 
Jlssemhly  have  expressed  their  utter  disapprobation,  in 
terms  which  might  have  been  expected  to  be  decisive 
in  their  influence  on  all  considerate  minds.  Still  the 
deplorable  evil  in  question  continues  to  prevail.     Pres- 


6 

byteries  either  give  it  their  direct  countenance,  or, 
cannot  be  prevailed  upon  to  set  their  faces,  with  suffi- 
cient firmness,  against  it;  and  short  sighted  ©r  infatuated 
young  men,  setting  at  naught  the  counsels  of  experi- 
ence, and  urged  on,  either  by  inconsiderate  friends,  or 
their  own  impatience,  ascend  the  pulpit,  and  undertake 
to  teach  others,  while  they  need  to  be  taught  them- 
selves "  the  first  principles  of  the  oracles  of  God." 

1  shall  not  at  present,  detain  you  with  any  comments 
on  the  tendency  of  this  practice  to  injure  the  Seminary 
itself;  to  render  it  both  less  useful,  and  less  respecta- 
ble, in  the  eyes  of  an  enlightened  religious  public.  I 
forbear  to  urge  this  consideration,  not  because  it  is  a 
matter  of  small  moment ;  for  the  character  of  an  Insti- 
tution like  this,  is  always  of  real  importance,  not  only 
to  the  particular  branch  of  the  Christian  Family  with 
which  it  is  more  immediately  connected,  but  also  to  the 
whole  Church  of  God: — but  because  this  is  a  topic, 
concerning  which  we  might  be  suspected  of  partiality  ; 
and,  more  especially,  because  there  are  other  conside- 
rations, still  more  momentous,  on  which  I  consider  it  as 
my  duty  now  to  enlarge. 

I  shall  employ  the  present  Lecture,  then,  in  endea- 
vouring to  impress  upon  the  minds  of  those  whom  I 
address,  that  the  preliminary  studies  of  a  candidate  for 
the  holy  ministry  ought  to  be  as  mature  and  complete  as 
he  can  make  them ;  and,  of  consequence,  that  nothing 
less  than  what  is  commonly  styled  a  "  regular  course," 
either  here  or  elsewhere,  under  the  direction  of  some 
approved  teacher  or  teachers,  ought  to  be  considered 
as  sufficient,  by  any  theological  student,  who  wishes  to 
be,  permanently,  either  acceptable  or  useful  in  the 
sacred  office.     And  in  support  of  this  position, — 

I.  My  first  argument  shall  be  drawn  from  a  conside- 
ration Avhich  I  take  for  granted  none  will  controvert, 


viz.  That  ive  are  bound  to  serve  Christ  with  the  very 
best  faculties  and  attainments  that  we  possess,  or  can 
possibly  acquire. 

That  we  are  really  bound  to  serve  God  with  the  best 
that  we  have  or  can  gain,  I  hold  to  be,  upon  Christian 
principles,  a  self-evident  proposition.  If  so,  then  the 
young  man  who  does  not  honestly  endeavour  to  make 
the  most  of  those  faculties  which  God  has  given  him ; 
who  does  not  cultivate,  and  enlarge,  and  enrich  them 
to  the  highest  degree  which  his  circumstances  render 
practicable :  and  who,  having  done  this,  does  not  devote 
them  all  in  the  best  manner  that  he  is  able,  to  the  ser- 
vice of  his  Master,  und(!)ubtedly  commits  sin ;  and  a  sin 
proportioned  to  the  degree  in  which  he  fails  of  doing  in 
this  respect,  what  he  might  and  ought  to  have  done. 
Has  God  given  us  talents,  accompanied  with  the  com- 
mand, Occupy  till  I  come  ?  Are  we  commanded  to 
make  the  most  that  we  can  of  these  talents  by  "  tra- 
ding," that  is  by  laborious  culture  and  exertion  1  And 
are  we  informed  that  our  reward  will  be  in  proportion 
to  our  fidelity  in  trading,  and  our  guilt  in  proportion  to 
our  negligence  and  unfaithfulness  ?  Then  there  can  be 
Jio  hesitation  in  pronouncing,  that  he  to  whom  God 
has  given  good  talents,  who  sits  down  contented  with  a 
small  amount  of  mental  culture  ;  who,  when  he  might 
gain  one  hundred  degrees  of  knowledge,  with  which  to 
serve  the  Church,  contents  himself  with  fifty,  or  twenty. 
or,  alas !  as  many  do,  with  ten,  or,  peradventure,  even 
with  five,  commits  a  grievous  sin  against  God,  against 
the  Church,  and  against  his  own  soul. 

That  intellect  is  power,  and  that  knowledge  is  power, 
will  not  be  denied  by  any  of  those  whom  I  now  address. 
Power  to  enlighten;  power  to  exert  influence;  and, 
consequently,  power  to  do  good.  Of  course,  the  more 
a  minister  of  the  Gospel  has  of  both,  provided  they  be 


8 

under  the  bauctified  guidance  of  genuine  piety,  the  bet- 
ter is  he  qualified  to  serve  the  Church  of  God  ;  and  the 
more  Ukely  will  he  be,  other  things  being  equal,  to  pro- 
mote its  best  interests.  There  is  no  doubt,  indeed,  that 
the  real  success  of  all  Christian  ministrations  depends 
on  the  mighty  power  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  accompany- 
ing them,  and  making  them  effectual.  But  still,  as  long 
as  God's  kingdom  is  a  kingdom  of  means ,  and  as  long 
as  the  good  done,  is  ordinarily  proportioned  to  the 
character  of  the  agency  employed  in  accomplishing  it, 
we  must  suppose  that  of  two  ministers  equally  pious,  he 
who  is  best  instructed  in  the  things  of  the  kingdom  of 
God,  most  at  home  in  the  great  system  of  his  truth,  and 
most  "  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,"  will  be  most  likely  to 
be  a  successful  servant  of  the  Church. 

I  would,  then,  appeal  to  the  conscience  of  every  can- 
didate for  the  holy  ministry,  whether  he  can  voluntarily 
and  deliberately  permit  himself  to  form  a  plan  for  his 
theological  education,  which  will,  if  I  may  be  allowed  the 
expression,  stint  and  abridge  all  his  preparation  for  pub- 
lic work,  and  deprive  him,  it  may  be,  of  three-fourths 
of  that  amount  of  qualification  with  which  he  might  and 
ought  to  come  forth  to  the  service  of  the  Church  ?  Can 
he,  as  a  conscientious  man,  allow  himself,  when  it  is 
possible  to  order  it  otherwise,  to  enter  the  sacred  office 
with  slender  acquirements,  when,  by  doing  so,  he  will, 
in  all  probability,  render  himself  less  acceptable  to  the 
Church ;  less  useful  in  his  day  ;  less  capable  of  defen- 
ding the  Gospel  against  gainsayers ;  less  able  to  in- 
truct,  and  mould,  and  influence  the  rising  generation ; 
less  able  to  take  the  lead  in  diffusing  sanctified  science 
around  him ;  less  able  to  benefit,  in  any  respect,  the 
kingdom  of  his  divine  Master,  and  the  world  in  which 
he  lives  'I  It  is  no  valid  plea  to  say,  in  answer  to  this 
reasoning,  that  an  individual,  in  a  given  case,  cannot 


pursue  a  more  adequate  course  of  study,  without  much 
difficulty^  and  at  the  expense  of  many  sacrifices.  Be 
it  so.  The  service  of  God  daily  calls  for  labour  and 
sacrifice.  And  he  who  refuses  to  sustain  them,  when 
it  is  in  his  power,  and  when  there  is  an  evident  call  of 
duty,  is  unfaithful  to  the  highest  obligations. 

II.  The  next  argument  which  I  would  urge  in  favour 
of  a  mature  and  thorough  course  of  preliminary  study, 
shall  be  drawn  from  the  consideration  of  the  extent, 
difficulty,  and  importance  of  the  various  departments 
of  knowledge  which  are  necessarily  included  in  such  a 
course. 

Multitudes  of  secular  men,  and  too  many  who  are 
turning  their  eyes  to  the  sacred  office,  seem,  indeed,  to 
think  that  the  preparatory  studies  of  a  minister  may  be 
brought  within  a  very  narrow  compass.     In  fact,  they 
seem  to  imagine  that  a  careful  perusal  of  the  Bible ;  of 
some  one  systematic  work  on  theology,  such  as  that  of 
Turretine,  or  Ridgely  ;  and  of  Mosheim  and  Milner  on 
Ecclesiastical  History,  together  with  a  few  more  single 
volumes  on    detached  theological  subjects,   is  quite 
enough  to  prepare  any  man  for  the  pulpit.     All  that  can 
be  said  of  such  persons  is,  that  they  betray  an  ignorance 
as  wonderful  as  it  is  disreputable.    As  well  might  a  man 
dream  that  he  was  qualified  to  be  a  physician,  by  the 
perusal  of    Cullen's   "First  Lines,"   or  of    Thomas's 
*'  Practice  of  Physic ;"  or  a  lawyer,  by  reading  Black- 
stone's  "Commentaries."    Surely  such  calculators  ne- 
ver penetrated  beyond  the  surface  of  any  single  ques- 
tion in  Biblical  or  Theological  inquiry.    Let  me  request 
you  to  glance  over  the  catalogue  of  studies  prescribed  . 
in  this  Seminary,  as  detailed  in  the  chapter  entitled,  "Of 
study  and  attainments,"  and  then  to  say,  whether  any 
one  of  them  can  be  wisely  or  safely  left  out  of  the  list ; 
and  further,  how  much  time  is  necessary  to  go  over 

B 


10 

them,  I  will  not  say  deeply,  but  even  in  the  most  cur- 
sory manner  that  admits  of  real  intelligence.  When 
we  recollect  that  every  candidate  for  the  ministry  is 
called  upon  by  our  plan  to  make  lumself  familiar  with 
the  Original  Languages  of  Scripture ;  with  Biblical 
History;  with  Biblical  Antiquities;  with  the  principles 
and  details  of  Biblical  Criticism  and  Interpretation; 
with  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  in  all  their  diversi- 
fied and  interesting  branches,  including  the  Deistical 
controversy,  the  Unitarian  controversy,  the  Pelagian 
and  Semi-pelagian  controversies,  to  say  nothing  of 
many  other  departments  of  this  boundless  subject- 
When  we  recollect  that  to  these  must  be  added  Eccle- 
siastical History,  Church  Government,  the  Composition 
and  Delivery  of  Sermons,  the  Pastoral  Care,  and  a 
variety  of  other  subjects  which  cannot  be  minutely  spe- 
cified ; — I  say,  when  we  recollect  that  all  these  branches 
of  study  are  indispensable ;  that  they  ought  all  to  be 
made  objects  of  attention  by  every  candidate  for  the 
holy  ministry  ;  that  he  is  really  not  prepared  even  to 
begin  his  work,  as  an  interpreter  of  Scripture,  and  a 
professional  counsellor  and  guide  of  immortal  souls, 
without  some  good  acquaintance  with  every  one  of 
them ; — is  it  possible  for  any  one,  who  knows  what 
study  and  knowledge  mean,  to  think  of  gaining  any 
Valuable  acquaintance  with  these  various  and  extensive 
departments  of  knowledge,  in  less  than  three  or  four 
years  of  diligent  application  %  It  is  impossible.  They 
are  subjects  in  respect  to  which  no  talents  can  super- 
sede the  necessity  of  patient  and  protracted  labour. 
Nay,  it  is  evident  that  a  tolerably  comprehensive  ac- 
quaintance with  any  one  of  them,  cannot  be  acquired, 
by  the  finest  mind,  without  months  of  devoted  study. 
He,  then,  who  thinks  so  far  to  master  them  all,  as  to 
be  prepared  to  be  "  a  teacher  in  the  house  of  God,"  at 


11 

little  expense  of  time  and  toil,  labours  under  a  delusion 
which  would  be  a  proper  subject  of  ridicule  only,  were 
it  not  so  destructive  in  its  consequences  to  the  most 
precious  interests  of  men. 

If  there  be,  then,  in  the  bosom  of  the  Church  a,  mel- 
ancholy spectacle,  it  is  that  of  a  rash,  self-confident 
young  man,  who  presses  forward  to  the  awful  station 
of  a  spiritual  teacher,  when  he  has  not  been  taught 
himself;  who  is  not  qualified,  perhaps,  to  illustrate  and 
guard  a  single  point  in  theology ;  who,  of  course, 
must  be  a  superficial  preacher  ;  and  who  cannot  fail  of 
being  liable  to  all  the  crude  thinking,  and  the  doctrinal 
inconsistencies  and  aberrations,  which  so  frequently 
mark  the  character  of  those  who  thus  prematurely  in- 
trude into  the  sacred  office.  How  it  is,  that  young  men 
apparently  conscientious,  can  deUberately  consent  to 
go  forth  as  public  instructors  in  the  Church  of  Christ ; 
to  open  and  apply  the  Scriptures ;  to  meet  and  confute 
the  learned  sceptic  ;  to  silence  the  ingenious  caviller ; 
to  solve  delicate  and  momentous  questions  of  casuistry ; 
to  counsel  the  anxious,  the  perplexed,  the  tempted, 
and  the  doubting ;  and  adapt  themselves  to  all  the  vari- 
ety of  characters  and  duties  which  a  large  congregation 
presents,  while  they  are,  comparatively  children,  both 
as  to  knowledge  and  experience, — is  indeed  wonderful, 
and  as  humiliating  as  it  is  wonderful ! 

What  an  impressive  comment  on  the  presumptuous 
readiness  with  which  too  many  young  men,  in  modern 
times,  venture  on  the  arduous  and  awful  labours  of  the 
Gospel  ministry,  with  the  slenderest  furniture,  were  the 
fears  and  the  hesitations  of  the  illustrious  Calvin,  as. 
recorded  by  his  biographers !  After  that  celebrated 
Reformer  had  published  the  first  edition  of  his  "  Institu- 
tions of  the  Christian  Religion,"  when  Joseph  Scaliger 
supposes  him  to  have  been  the  most  learned  man  in 


12 

EurojK^  and  when  he  was  importuned,  and  finally  con- 
strained to  settle,  as  a  pastor  in  Geneva,  he  was  actually 
on  his  way  to  Strnshurgh,  for  the  purpose  of  further 
pursuing  his  theological  studies,  under  the  impression 
that  he  had  not  yet  obtained  mature  scriptural  know- 
ledge enough  to  warrant  his  undertaking  the  stated  ex- 
ercise of  the  pastoral  office  ! 

III.  A  third  consideration  which  shows  the  impor- 
tance of  having  the  preparatory  studies  in  theology 
as  thorough  and  complete  as  possible,  is,  that  he  tvho 
does  not  lay  a  good  foundation  in  the  beginning,  will 
never  be  likely  to  supply  the  deficiency  afterwards. 

Many  candidates  for  the  ministry,  no  doubt,  content 
themselves  with  what  they  acknowledge  to  be  a  short 
and  very  superficial  course  of  study  at  the  outset,  be- 
cause they  imagine  they  will  have  an  ample  opportu- 
nity of  supplying  all  deficiencies  after  entering  on  their 
official  work.  They  flatter  themselves  that,  after  they 
have  actually  entered  the  field  of  public  labour,  they 
will  have  at  once,  better  facilities,  and  stronger  excite- 
ments to  study,  than  they  now  enjoy ;  and  that,  then, 
they  will  make  up,  and  more  than  make  up,  w  hatever 
may  now  be  wanting.  But  it  is  easy  to  show  that  this 
expectation  generally  proves,  in  fact,  and  in  most  cases 
must  prove,  altogether  delusive.  Rely  on  it,  my  young 
friends,  if  you  leave  this  Seminary  with  a  mere  smat- 
tering of  theological  knowledge  ;  with  what  you  know- 
to  be  a  scanty  and  inadequate  foundation,  there  is  every 
probability  that  you  will  go  through  life,  and  to  your 
graves,  with  very  little  more.  The  superstructure  con- 
cerning which  you  anticipate  so  much,  w  ill,  pretty  cer- 
tainly, be  of  the  same  miserable,  scanty,  and  insufficient 
character. 

For,  in  the  first  place,  when  a  young  preacher,  at  the 
present  d  ay,  goes  out  to  serve  the  Church, — if  he  ha\ic 


13 

talentti,  and  be  popular, — and  especially  if  he  have  ar- 
dent piety,  and  a  heart  to  perform  his  work  with  zeal, 
he  will  have  so  much  to  do;  will  be  so  incessantly 
called  upon  in  every  direction  ;  will  be  constrained  to 
preach  so  much  in  season,  and  out  of  season^  that  he 
will  hardly  find  time  enough  to  prepare,  even  in  the 
most  hasty  and  superficial  manner,  for  the  pulpit ;  much 
less  to  engage  in  other  studies  in  which  he  might  have 
found  himself  deficient  when  he  began  to  preach.  And, 
what  is  worthy  of  particular  notice  here,  the  more 
ardent  his  piety,  and  the  more  animated,  interesting, 
and  popular  his  preaching,  the  worse,  as  to  the  point  in 
question,  it  will  be  for  liim :— that  is,  the  more  incessant 
will  be  his  interruptions,  and  the  more  difficult  he  will 
find  it  to  redeem  any  time  for  rea/  study.     I  say  for 
real  study ;  for  those  little  snatches  of  reading  and 
writing,  all  of  which,  and  more,  are  indispensably  ne- 
cessary for  preparation  for  the  pulpit,  and  which  are 
seldom  enjoyed  with  a  perfectly  composed  mind,  are 
really  not  worthy  of  the  name  of  study.     The  conse- 
quence is,  that  nine  out  of  ten,  perhaps  nineteen  out  of 
twenty,  of  those  who  engage  in  preaching  with  very 
slender  furniture,  go  through  the  whole  of  their  minis- 
terial life  with  lean,  unfurnished  minds.     Their  "  profi- 
ting does  not  appear  to  all."     Not  having  the  habit  of 
close  study,  it  is  not  easy  to  begin.     They,  perhaps, 
hope  for  much,  and  promise  much  in  the  way  of  future 
improvement,  but  never  find  time  for  it.     The  result 
is,   they  are    not    instructive   or  interesting   preach- 
ers.    The  small  stock  with  which  they  begin  is  soon 
exhausted.     Their  popular  acceptance  soon  declines  or 
ceases.     They  are  seldom  long  settled  hi  one  congre- 
gation, the  people  every  where  discovering,  in  a  short 
time,  that  they  know  but  little,  and  cannot  "  feed  them 
with  knowledge  and  with  understanding."    They  re- 


14 

move,  igaomhiiously,  from  place  to  place.  Instead  of 
being  attracted  and  edified,  the  people  to  whom  they 
minister  are  scattered,  and  perhaps  perish  under  their 
feeble  ministrations.  Premature  dotage  creeps  on  :  and 
they  die,  in  many  cases,  rather  a  burden  than  a  blessing 
to  the  Church.  It  is  truly  melancholy  to  think  how 
often  this  has  been  the  real  history  of  ministers  who 
entered  the  sacred  office  without  proper  furniture,  and 
who,  for  want  of  time  or  inclination  afterwards,  never 
made  up  their  early  deficiency. 

We  know  that  if  a  common  mechanic  learn  his  trade 
well  in  the  beginning,  and  go  forth  from  his  ai)prentice- 
ship  a  good  workman,  he  is  not  only  able  to  do  his 
work  better^  but  also  to  do  more  work  in  a  given  time, 
and  to  do  it  with  far  more  ease  and  comfort  to  himself, 
than  if  he  had  gone  out  a  bungler,  and  but  half  taught. 
The  same  principle,  in  all  its  extent,  applies  to  the 
intellectual  and  moral  workman.  When  the  candidate 
for  the  sacred  office  allows  himself  to  engage  in  the 
duties  of  that  office  but  half  prepared,  all  his  subsequent 
work  will  be  performed  with  more  difficulty,  more 
tardily,  and  probably  with  less  usefulness.  His  prepa- 
rations for  the  pulpit  will  cost  him  more  time  and  toil, 
and  will  be  less  satisfactory  to  himself,  as  well  as  to 
others.  Whereas,  if  he  delay  going  forth  to  his  work 
until  he  be  really  ready,  his  comfort,  his  reputation,  and 
his  benefit  to  the  Church  and  the  world,  will  be  likely 
to  be  proportionably  increased. 

But,  even  supposing  that  he  who  enters  on  the  duties 
of  the  holy  ministry  with  slender  furniture,  should  after- 
wards be  determined,  whatever  it  may  cost  him,  to 
make  up  his  deficiency  by  unwearied  and  extra  efforts. 
Still  his  task  will  be  difficult,  and  his  prospect  gloomy. 
He  can  only  take  one  of  two  courses,  either  of  which 
will  probably  be  fatal.    He  may  attempt,  amidst  all  his 


15 

multiplied  active  labours,   and  distracting  cares,  by 
night  studies,  and  by  urging  nature  in  every  way,  and 
beyond  her  strength,  to  gain  that  which  he  ought  to 
have  acquired  before  he  entered  the  pulpit.     In  this 
case  he  will,  pretty  certainly,  destroy  his  healthy  and 
either  sink  into  a  premature  grave,  or  reduce  himself, 
for  the  remainder  of  his  days,  to  a  state  of  languor  and 
protracted  disease,  which  will  render  existence  a  bur- 
den, and  all  comfortable  and  efficient  discharge  of  duty 
impossible.    O  how  many  miserable  and  hopeless  in- 
valids  for  life,  might  have   avoided  the  calamity  of 
which  they  are  victims,  by  gaining,  in  the  preliminary 
part  of  their  course,  that  which  they  unwisely  left  to 
be  accomplished  by  subsequent  efforts  !  Or,  the  delin- 
quent in  question  may  choose  another  alternative.     He 
may,  after  entering  the  ministry,  confine  himself  to  his 
study,  neglecting  family  visitation,  neglecting  family 
instruction,  neglecting  the  anxious  inquirer,  neglecting 
the  sick  and  the  dying,  in  short,  neglecting  all  pastoral 
duties,  excepting  those  of  the  pulpit.   The  consequences 
of  adopting  this  alternative,  may  be  even  still  more 
deplorable  than  in  the  former  case.    While  the  other 
course  would,  probably,  be  fatal  to  his  health,  this 
would  be  fatal  to  his  usefulness,  fatal  to  his  character, 
fatal  to  the  best  interests  of  the  souls  committed  to  his 
charge. 

But  it  will  be  asked, — Have  not  individuals  been 
frequently  known,  who  entered  the  office  of  the  holy 
ministry  with  very  small  theological  furniture  ;  but  who 
afterwards,  by  extraordinary  efforts,  became  not  only 
respectably,  but  some  of  them  even  richly  furnished  for 
their  work  ?  I  answer,  such  instances  have  now  and 
then  occured.  But  they  have  been  generally,  men  of 
peculiar  intellectual  vigour  and  perseverance ;  of  great 
decision  of  character ;  and  placed  in  cii'cumstances 


16 

wliiclu  in  a  great  measure  exempted  them  from  the 
daily  and  homly  calls  of  pastoral  duty.  Of  such  a  man 
in  the  American  Church,  witliin  the  last  twenty  years, 
since  the  additional  claims  on  the  time  and  efforts  of 
ministers  have  become  so  numerous  and  importunate, 
I  know  of  no  example.  And  I  have  no  doubt  that,  if 
the  whole  history  of  those  men,  who,  in  other  times  and 
countries,  have  presented  such  examples,  were  impar- 
tially examined,  they  would  be  found  powerful  witnesses 
not  against,  but  for  the  doctrine  which  I  am  labouring 
to  establish. 

IV,  Further ;  a  mature  and  leisurely  training  for  the 
Gospel  ministry  is  highly  important,  not  merely  for  the 
purpose  of  storing  the  7nind  ivith  knowledge,  but  also 
for  the  purpose  of  that  intellectual  atid  moral  discipline^ 
which  is  of  no  less  value  to  a  minister  of  Christ  than 
theological  learning. 

Many  seem  to  imagine  that  the  only  use  of  a  regular 
and  complete  course  of  preparatory  study,  is  the  mere 
attainme7it  of  knowledge.  And,  therefore,  when  a 
candidate  for  the  ministry,  after  completing  his  Colle- 
giate course,  is  exhorted  to  spend  at  least  three  years 
in  a  Theological  Seminary,  or  in  some  similar  situation, 
it  is  thought,  by  many  serious  people,  to  be  almost  a 
criminal  sacrifice  to  mere  learning.  But  such  persons 
forget  that  the  discipline  of  the  mind,  and  especially  of 
the  heart,  the  temper,  and  the  general  character,  is 
among  the  most  important  parts  of  professional  prepa- 
ration. They  forget  that  even  if  the  requisite  amount 
of  facts  and  principles  could  be  crowded  into  the  mind 
of  a  young  man  in  six  months,  or  even  in  six  weeks, 
still  one  essential  object  of  theological  education  would 
be  unattained ;  wliich  is  casting  the  luhole  man,  if  I  may 
be  ailowed  the  expression,  into  the  proper  mould  for 
a  minister  of  religion.    This  includes  the  correction  of 


y 


17 

bad  habits  ;  the  ibrmation  of  new  and  better  ones  ;  the 
gradual  discipline  and  ripening  of  tlie  intellectual 
powers ;  mellowing,  softening,  and  at  the  same  time 
invigorating,  the  graces  of  the  heart ;  bringing  down 
high  thoughts  of  himself;  ascertaining  his  own  defects 
and  foibles;  learning  the  value  of  gravity,  self-com- 
mand, prudence,  and  Christian  dignity ;  studying  human 
nature  and  the  world  ;  studying  clerical  character 
as  it  too  commonly  has  been,  and  as  it  ought  to  be  ;  in 
short,  unlearning  many  things  which  have  been  learned 
amiss,  and  correcting  many  erroneous  views,  and  juve- 
nile propensities,  which  nothing  but  time,  and  suitable 
associations,  accompanied  with  much  observation, 
watchfulness,  prayer  and  conflict  can  possibly,  under 
God,  enable  him  to  accomplish.  Suppose  a  young 
man  to  enter  a  Seminary  like  this,  to  be  trained  up  for 
the  Gospel  ministry.  Suppose  him  to  have  lively, 
vigorous  talents,  and  unfeigned  piety  ;  but  at  the  same 
time  to  be  rash,  impetuous,  indiscreet,  ignorant  of  the 
world,  elated  with  ideas  of  his  own  powers  and  impor- 
tance, and  ready  on  all  occasions,  to  dash  forward  for 
tlie  attainment  of  his  object.  Now,  if  such  a  young 
man  had  read  all  the  books  in  the  world,  and  heard  and 
treasured  up  all  the  learned  lectures  that  ever  were 
delivered,  within  these  or  any  other  walls,  he  would 
still  be  unfit  to  go  forth  as  a  Minister  of  the  Gospel ; — 
to  be  a  Teacher,  an  Example,  and  a  Guide  in  the  Church 
of  God.  Such  an  one  needs  the  friendly  hints,  the  fra- 
ternal counsel,  the  gentle  Christian  attention  of  a  band 
of  fellow-students.  He  needs  to  be  taught  by  experi- 
ence, and  sometimes  by  very  painful  experience  ;  to. 
be  admonished,  and  mortified,  and  humbled  again  and 
again,  before  he  can  be  brought  to  "  think  soberly,"  to 
feel  what  his  own  defects  and  foibles  are,  and  to 
acknowledge  that  others  are  greater  and  better  than 


18 

himself;  before  he  can  learn  habitually  to  respect  the 
feelings  of  others,  to  treat  all  around  him  with  delicacy, 
to  be  '<  swift  to  hear,  slow  to  speak,  slow  to  Avrath." 
And  all  this  is  not,  ordinarily,  to  be  acquired  in  a  year, 
or  in  two  years.  It  is,  usually,  a  slow  process ;  and  the 
longer  it  can  be  continued,  within  reasonable  limits,  the 
better.  It  will  indeed  be  well  if  the  close  of  the  most 
protracted  course  in  the  Seminary,  should  find  those 
who  pass  through  it  in  any  good  measure,  mature,  or 
even  advanced,  in  these  attainments.  For  it  is  certain 
that  all  who  enjoy  the  opportunity  are  by  no  means  so 
happy.  In  fact,  with  many,  this  intellectual  and  moral 
discipline  is  far  more  jieeded,  and  far  more  important, 
than  mere  knowledge.  The  want  of  it  is  their  most 
prominent  and  radical  defect ;  and  will  be  likely,  per- 
haps, more  than  any  other,  (next  to  a  defect  in  piety,) 
to  interfere  with  their  acceptance,  their  comfort,  and 
their  usefulness  to  the  end  of  life. 

The  truth  is,  many  of  the  ministers  of  our  Church, 
enter  on  their  public  work  by  a  good  deal  too  early  in 
life.  Not  only  before  they  have  taken  time  to  become 
sutficiently  furnished  with  Biblical  and  Theological 
knowledge  ;  but  before  their  character  is  properly 
formed  and  matured.  Like  the  unfledged  young  of  the 
feathered  tribes,  they  have  ventured  forth,  and  attempt- 
ed to  fly,  before  their  wings  were  ready  to  sustain 
them.  The  consequence  is,  that  like  them  also,  many 
an  ignoble  fall,  and  many  a  sad  bruise  and  wound,  are 
found  to  be  the  result.  It  is  really  very  seldom  that  any 
man  has  such  maturity  and  solidity  of  judgment,  such 
habitual  gravity  and  prudence,  such  a  knowledge  of 
himself  and  of  the  world,  and  such  a  store  of  the  various 
and  important  information  w^hich  he  needs,  as  to  qualify 
him  for  entering  the  pulpit  before  twenty  five  or  twenty- 
six  years  of  age,  and  especially  for  undertaking  a  pas- 


19 

toral  charge  before  twenty-seven  or  twenty-eight.  Nor 
even  then  is  he  ready  for  such  delicate,  difficult  and 
momentous  work,  unless  he  have  spent  years  in  steadily 
contemplating  its  nature,  and  in  preparing  and  disci- 
plining his  whole  mind  and  habits  for  its  performance. 

V.  A  further  argument  in  favour  of  a  regular  and        .  / 
complete  course  of  theological  study,  may  be  drawn        * 
from  the  opinion  and  practice  of  our  Fathers  in  all 
past  ages. 

In  the  ancient  Jewish  Church,  no  priest  could  enter 
on  the  full  and  active  duties  of  his  office,  until  he  was 
thirty  yeai's  old ;  and  of  the  preceding  years,  the  last 
fifteen,  and  especially  the  last  ten,  were  devoted  to  dili- 
gent study  and  preparation  for  his  official  work.  Of 
course,  I  hardly  need  add,  that  the  course  of  study  in 
the  Divinity  Schools  under  the  Old  Testament  dispen- 
sation, was  long,  leisurely,  and  mature. 

In  like  manner,  after  the  advent  of  the  Saviour,  when 
the  Church  became  organized  and  settled,  careful  study 
as  a  preparation  for  the  sacred  office  was  continued, 
and  that  by  Divine  direction.  For  although  the  first 
preachers  were  illiterate  fishermen,  yet  they  were 
supernaturally  instructed  by  their  Master,  and  endowed 
with  the  power  of  working  miracles,  and  speaking  with 
tongues,  in  aid  of  their  ministry ;  and  long  before  this 
period  of  miracle  and  inspiration  was  ended,  we  find 
careful  study  and  mature  knowledge  enjoined  by  an 
Apostle,  who  knew  their  value  by  experience,  and  incul- 
cated them  upon  principles  which  apply  to  all  ages. 
lie  had  himself  been  "  brought  up  at  the  feet  of  Gama- 
liel-"^  and  seems  to  have  been  well  skilled  in  every 
branch  of  literature  and  science  then  taught.  And, 
what  is  particularly  worthy  of  our  notice,  this  only  man, 
among  all  the  Apostles,  who  was  favoured  with  ample 


20 

and  ripe  learning,  was  by  far  the  most  eminently  useiiil 
of  the  whole  number.  Accordingly  he  gives  directions 
which  plainly  establish,  not  only  the  truth  but  also  the 
importance  of  the  doctrine  for  which  I  am  contending. 
The  candidate  for  the  ministry,  according  to  the  direc- 
tion of  this  Apostle — is  not  to  be  "  a  novice," — but  to 
be  "apt  to  teach" — and  "able  to  teach;" — he  is  to 
*'give  himself  to  reading,"  and  "to  let  his  profiting 
appear  to  all."  In  the  second,  third,  and  fourth  centu- 
ries, study  for  the  holy  ministry  seems  to  have  been 
considered  as  a  serious  thing,  by  no  means  to  be  hur- 
ried over,  or  regarded  as  a  small  affair.  Several  years 
of  laborious  study  were  not  thought  too  much  to  be 
submitted  to  for  this  important  object.  By  some  of  the 
early  councils  it  was  solemnly  decided,  that  no  man 
ought  to  be  ordained  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  under 
thirty  years  of  age ;  because  they  thought  that  none  could 
be  qualified  for  the  office  at  an  earlier  period  ;  because 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  himself  began  his  ministry  at  that 
age  ;  and  because  they  considered  it  as  the  most  per- 
fect age  of  man. 

When  the  modern  Theological  Seminaries,  or  rather 
theological  courses  of  instruction,  in  the  Universities  of 
Europe  were  established,  the  same  general  plan  was 
adopted.  In  none  of  them,  I  believe,  is  a  less  time  than 
three  years  considered  as  sufficient  for  a  regular  course 
— and  in  some  much  more  is  required.  And,  what  is 
remarkable,  even  in  those  Universities  in  which  the 
Professors  in  the  theological  department,  complete  their 
whole  course  of  I^ectures  in  a  single  year,  as  I  believe, 
is  the  case  in  Holland^  and  some  other  countries,  still 
at  least  three  years  are  considered  as  requisite  for  a 
complete  professional  course.  It  being  supposed  of 
essential  importance  that  every  student  should  travel 


21 

repeatedly  over  tlie  same  ground,  that  his  knowledge 
might  be  more  thoroughly  digested,  and  more  deeply 
impressed  on  his  mind. 

When  the  Seminary  of  the  Associate  Reformed 
Church  in  the  United  States  was  first  established,  a 
period  of  tht-ee  years  was  assigned  for  the  regular 
course.  Yet,  in  a  little  time  afterwards,  the  venerable 
Synod  of  that  Church,  extended  the  course  to  /our 
years ;  finding,  by  experience,  that  three  were  alto- 
gether inadequate  to  the  purpose  intended. 

.  Now,  the  use  which  I  wish  to  make  of  these  facts, 
and  others  of  a  similar  kind,  which  might  be  detailed,  is 
the  following  : — If  our  Fathers  in  all  ages  ;  if  the  wisest 
and  best  of  men,  both  under  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment dispensations,  have  judged  that  a  number  of  years 
of  close  application  to  study  were  necessary  to  a  suita- 
ble course  of  preparation  for  the  ministry,  shall  we  be 
arrogant  enough  to  suppose  that  they  were  all  wrong, 
and  that  we  understand  the  subject  better  than  they 
did  1  Is  the  field  of  knowledge  now  less  extended  than 
it  was  t/ie7i  1  Or  shall  we  be  vain  enough  to  imagine 
that  we  have  better  talents,  and  better  capacities  for 
acquiring  knowledge  than  they  had  ;  and  that  we  can 
accomplish  as  much  as  they  did  in  less  time  1  It  is  pro- 
bable that  we  shall  none  of  us  think  of  adopting  either 
of  these  suppositions.  No  ;  they  had  as  vigorous  and 
active  minds  as  we  possess  ;  they  were  at  least  as  dili- 
gent in  study  as  we  are ;  they  were  quite  as  much 
averse,  as  we  are,  to  the  waste  of  time ;  they  felt  as 
much  as  we  probably  feel,  for  the  salvation  of  souls 
perishing  around  them: — and  yet,  after  much  experi- 
ence, they  found  the  time  which  has  been  mentioned 
necessary  to  them.  Rely  on  it,  my  beloved  pupils,  if 
you  had  the  same  experience,  you  would  be  of  the  same 
mind  with  them :  and  if  you  have  not  the  same  convicr. 


22 

tions  tiow,  you  will,  I  doubt  not,  adopt  them  by  and  by ; 
perhaps  some  of  you  when  it  shall  be  too  late  to  profit 
by  the  conviction. 

VI.  Another  consideration  in  support  of  the  doctrine 
for  which  I  contend  is,  that  the  present  state  of  the 
world.,  and  especially  of  our  otvn  country,  calls  for 
more  various  and  profound  knowledge  in  ministers  of 
the  Gospel,  than  was  demanded  informer  times. 

It  is  not,  I  think,  speaking  extravagantly  lo  say,  that 
where  one  person  in  the  United  States  half  a  century 
ago,  received  a  liberal  education,  at  least  ten,  perhaps 
fifteen,  .in  one  form  or  another,  receive  it  now.  la 
every  part  of  our  country,  even  in  the  newest  and  most 
remote  settlements,  there  are  numbers  of  professional 
and  other  individuals  of  shrewd  and  active  minds,  well 
informed,  and  qualified  to  judge  with  intelligence  and 
correctness  of  the  talents  and  learning  of  those  who 
appear  before  them  as  ministers  of  the  Gospel.  Some 
of  these  men  are  friendly  to  the  Religion  of  Christ  and 
its  preachers  ;  but  a  much  larger  number  are,  at  heart, 
hostile  to  both.  A  minister,  then,  can  hardly  go  into 
the  most  remote  and  unenlightened  districts  without 
meeting  with  some,  and  often  with  many  who  are  able 
and  very  much  disposed  to  scrutinize  all  that  he  delivers, 
and  to  detect  all  his  ignorance  and  mistakes.  A  smat- 
tering, and  more  than  a  smattering  in  the  languages, 
in  the  sciences,  and  in  all  those  departments  of  know- 
ledge, from  which  infidels  are  w^ont  to  draw  some 
of  their  most  perplexing  objections,  is  almost  every 
where  diffused  from  Canada  to  Mexico,  and  from  the 
Ocean  to  our  remotest  Western  settlement?.  Now, 
ought  ministers  of  religion  to  consider  themselves  as 
qualified  to  engage  in  the  public  discharge  of  the  duties 
of  their  office,  until  they  have  gone  through  such  a 
course  of  mature  study  as  will  qualify  them  to  appear 


\J 


2S 

with  tolerable  advantage  before  such  men  ;  to  instruct 
them  in  divine  things  ;  to  refute  them  ;  and  to  defend 
the  cause  of  Christ  against  their  attacks?  Are  they 
really  prepared  to  be  heralds  of  the  cross ;  to  be 
"watchmen  on  the  walls  of  Zionf  to  be  "Shepherds 
of  the  flock;"  to  be  "leaders  and  guides  of  the  people" 
without  such  furniture  as  I  have  described  1  They  cer- 
tainly are  not. 

I  am  aware  that  some  candidates  for  the  holy  minis- 
try, who  deliberately  content  themselves  with  small 
preparation  for  their  work,  are  frequently  heard  to  say, 
that  they  do  not  aspire  to  any  conspicuous  station ;  that 
their  utmost  hope  is,  that  they  may,  perhaps,  be  quali- 
fied to  serve  the  Church  in  an  humble  way,  among 
some  poor  and  plain  people,  where  preachers  are  few 
and  greatly  needed.  But  how  can  such  a  candidate 
know  where  the  Lord  of  the  harvest  may  assign  to  him 
his  field  of  labour  ?  He  is  not  his  own  master,  nor  will 
he  «  mete  out  the  bounds  of  his  own  habitation."  His 
duty,  therefore,  is  not  to  say, — "  I  will  go  to  some 
"  obscure  place,  and  will  only  aim  to  be  qualified  for 
"5wcA  a  place ;"  but  rather, — "  I  will  go  wherever  the 
"  great  Head  of  the  Church,  in  his  infinite  wisdom  may 
"  send  me,  and  will  laboiu',  to  the  extent  of  my  oppor- 
"  tunity  and  ability,  to  be  prepared  for  any  placed 
Besides,  this  whole  plea  is  delusive  in  another  view. 
It  is  an  utter  mistake  to  suppose  that  persons  of  small 
talents,  and  slender  furniture,  are  adapted  to  new  settle- 
ments, and  destitute  regions.  There  the  best  talents, 
the  best  acquirements,  and  the  most  prudent,  judicious 
men  are  most  indispensably  required.  Men  of  feeble 
minds  and  small  attainments  may,  perhaps,  do  good  by 
sitting  down  in  old  settlements,  where  there  is  much 
knowledge,  prudence,  and  piety,  and  where  other  min- 
isters are  at  hand  to  counsel  and  aid  them.    In  circum- 


stances  oi'  this  kind,  I  have  known  such  men  iiuly 
useful  in  the  ministry.  But  they  are  by  no  means 
adapted  to  be  sent  as  pioneers,  into  new  and  destitute 
legions,  where  every  thing  is  to  be  commenced  and 
organized ;  and  where  all  the  skill,  address,  learning, 
prudence,  piety,  and  knowledge  of  the  human  heart, 
and  of  the  wiles  of  Satan,  that  a  minister  can  possibly 
bring  to  his  aid,  are  greatly,  nay,  indispensably  needed. 
To  this  fact,  the  attention  of  the  Professors  of  this 
Seminary  has  been  drawn  with  a  frequency  and  a  force, 
which  could  not  fail  of  making  a  deep  impression  on 
their  minds.  In  the  course  of  eight  or  ten  years  past, 
we  have  received  many,  very  many  applications  to 
recommend  candidates  for  settlement  in  feeble  congre- 
gations and  remote  places,  both  in  the  New  and  the  Old 
States,  accompanied,  at  the  same  time,  with  a  detail 
of  circumstances,  concerning  the  situation  and  character 
of  the  people,  which  convinced  us  that  no  candidates 
would  answer  the  purpose  excepting  those  who  had 
much  knowledge,  prudence  and  piety ;  nay,  which 
convinced  us,  that  sending  candidates  of  any  other 
character,  would  rather  hinder  than  promote  the  pro- 
gress of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom.  Candidates  we  had, 
and,  in  some  instances,  in  considerable  numbers ;  but 
few  or  none  fit  to  be  sent  to  such  scenes  of  labour  ;  and 
so  we  were  obliged  to  inform  our  importunate  appli- 
cants. The  truth  is,  many  of  the  people  in  these  remote 
districts  desire — and  it  is  a  reasonable  wish — that  the 
ministers  sent  them  should  be  qualified  to  take  the  lead 
in  all  the  ecclesiastical  organizations  and  proceedings, 
not  merely  of  a  single  Church,  but  of  several  neigh- 
bouring Churches,  starting  into  life  and  activity ;  to  be 
the  counsellors  and  guides  of  Tovrnships,  and  some- 
times, perhaps,  of  Counties  ;  to  mould  a  heterogeneous 
population  into  a  harmonious  and  comfortable  mass  ;  to 


ZO 


give  advice,  go  forward,  and  command  respect  in  diffi- 
cult and  delicate  cases ;  and  to  take  an  active  part  in 
promoting  sound"  literature  as  well  as  religion^  in  the 
respective  neighbourhoods  in  which  they  may  be  placed. 
Indeed  to  much  of  this  work  every  itinerant  missionary 
is  called  ;  and  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  that  he  be 
able  to  perform  it  with  acceptance  and  usefulness.  And 
that  candidate  for  the  ministry  who  is  either  too  lazy, 
or  too  narrow-minded  to  take  the  requisite  pains  to 
qualify  himself  for  these  various  and  momentous  duties, 
may  think  himself  very  conscientious,  and  may  give 
himself  great  credit  for  being  moderate  and  humble  in 
his  views;  but  he  is  an  infatuated  man.  He  is  not 
merely  under  a  mistake ;  he  is  unfaithful  to  himself,  to 
the  Church,  and  to  the  Master  whom  he  professes  to 
love. 

VII.  The  position  which  I  wish  to  establish,  is  still 
further  confirmed,  and  its  great  importance  illustrated 
by  the  humiliating  fact,  that  learning  is,  at  present,  at  a 
lov)  ebb  among  tlie  Clergy  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 

This  assertion  will,  probably,  be  considered  as  a 
paradox  by  some  who  now  hear  me,  especially  when 
taken  in  connexion  with  what  was  before  advanced 
respecting  the  growing  literature  and  intelligence  of  our 
country.  Have  not  Lawyers  and  Physicians  become 
more  learned  and  able,  as  well  as  more  numerous,  than 
they  were  forty  or  fifty  years  ago  ]  In  general  I  believe 
tliey  have.  And  have  not  our  Clergy  you  will  ask, 
made  a  corresponding  improvement]  In  general,  I  am 
persuaded  they  have  not.  Whatever  may  be  the  rea- 
sons of  it,  the  humiliating  fact,  I  apprehend,  is  really  so.^ 
They  have  not  made  a  corresponding  improvement. 
Other  causes  may  be  assigned  for  this  fact — if  it  be  a 
fact — but  I  really  believe  one  great  cause  is  the  pre- 
vailing excessive  and  criminal  haste  to  be  licensed,  and 

D 


26 

to  gel  into  the  licld  of  active  labour.  The  means  of 
more  mature  study,  and  the  excitements  to  more  ma- 
ture study,  have  been  constantly  increasing ;  but  both 
tlie  means  and  excitements  have  been  lost  upon  a  large 
number  of  our  candidates.  And  when  a  rapid  improve- 
ment might  have  been  expected,  a  real  decline,  if  I 
mistake  not,  has  been  silently  and  insensibly  going  on. 

A  little  more  than  three  quarters  of  a  century  ago, 
there  was  a  considerable  number  of  ministers  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  this  country,  who  deserved  to 
be  called  illustrious.  As  to  the  reality  of  this  fact,  you 
Avill  not  hesitate,  when  I  mention,  as  a  specimen,  the 
names  of  President  Bickinsony  the  elder  President 
Edwards,  President  Burr,  the  Tennents,  Mr.  Blairy 
President  Daviess  President  Finhy,  and  a  number  more 
scarcely  inferiour ;  men,  most  of  them,  at  once  eminent 
for  the  fervour  of  their  piety,  the  activity  of  their  zeal, 
tiie  vigour  of  their  talents,  the  extent  of  their  erudition, 
and  their  commanding  influence.  The  distinguished 
usefulness  of  these  holy,  apostolical  men,  in  giving  a 
tone  to  the  preaching,  the  discipline,  and  the  character 
of  the  Church  to  which  they  belonged,  it  would  not  be 
easy  to  estimate.  They  were  felt  to  be  "  workmen 
that  needed  not  to  be  ashamed,"  qualified  "  rightly  to 
divide  the  word  of  truth ;"  and  the  Churches,  and  their 
younger  brethren  confided  in  them,  and  looked  up  to 
them,  and,  under  the  divine  blessing,  were  guided 
aright.  They  were  men  fitted  to  have  influence,  and 
they  hud  it,  and  employed  it  for  the  glory  of  God,  and 
the  best  interests  of  mankind. 

The  generation  of  ministers  next  to  tliem,  were,  as  a 
body,  little,  if  any  less  distinguished.  Then  we  had 
Strain,  and  Duffield,  and  Witherspoon,  and  At  Whorter, 
and  fVuddell,  and  IVilson^  and  liodgers,  and  HogCy  not 
to  mention  others  of  equal  claims ;  men  of  wisdom. 


/ 


27 

piety,  prudence,  dignity,  and  peace  ;— men  who  com- 
manded the  veneration  and  confidence  of  the  Churches  ; 
men,  who,  whenever  they  appeared  in  ecclesiastical 
Judicatories,  especially  in  the  higher  ones,  seemed  as  it" 
they  were  sent  to  enlighten,  and  guide,  and  bless  the 
family  of  Christ.  ® 

Of  the  present  state  of  our  Church  in  reference  to 
this  point,  it  is  both  difficult  and  delicate  to  speak.  But 
I  ask — Have  we  an  equally  illustrious  list  to  show  at 
this  hour,  in  proportion  to  our  greatly  augmented  num- 
bers and  advantages  1  Tiie  ministers  of  our  Church  are 
nearly  ten  times  as  numerous  as  they  were  sixty  years 
ago ;  and  the  facilities  for  obtaining  ])ooks,  and  pursu- 
ing study,  are  also  greatly  multiplied.  Upon  every 
principle  of  proportion,  we  ought  to  be  able  noiv  to  bring 
forward  a  catalogue  of  Presbyterian  Apostles  at  least 
ten  times  as  large  as  could  have  been  produced  in  the 
days  of  Edwards,  Bavies,. and  Finhy.  But  can  we 
produce  such  a  catalogue  %  It  would  rejoice  my  heart  if 
I  could  think  it  possible.  We  cannot,  however,  I  think, 
so  far  impose  upon  ourselves  as  to  deem  it  possible. 
The  most  mortifying  facts  of  a  contradictory  character 
stare  us  in  the  face.  How  diflicult  is  it,  even  in  this 
day  of  Theological  ?3minaries,  some  of  which  have 
been  nearly  twenty  years  in  operation,  to  supply  an 
important  vacant  congregation  with  a  pastor,  in  whom 
the  union  of  eminent  learning,  talents  and  piety  is  con- 
sidered as  indispensable  %  How  much  more  ditTicult 
still  to  find  a  proper  head  for  a  College,  to  take  a  goodly 
portion  of  the  rising  generation  under  his  care,  and 
train  them  up  to  sound  learning,  and  enlightened  virtue 
and  piety  1  And  if  a  Professor  in  a  Theological  Semi-^ 
nary  be  needed,  it  seems  he  can  only  be  had  by  robbing 
some  other  Institution,  or  some  important  post  in  the 
Church;   and  thus,  perhaps,   inflicting  a  certain  and 


28 

immediate  injury  more  than  sufficient  to  countervail 
even  the  anticipated  advantage.  I  should  really  tremble 
for  the  interests  of  Christian  Literature,  and  of  sound 
theological  know^ledge  in  our  Church,  and  in  our  country, 
if  1  did  not  cherish  the  hope  that  "  He  who  sits  as  King 
upon  the  holy  hill  of  Zeow"  will  give  an  effectual  impulse 
to  the  hearts  of  at  least  a  few  of  the  present  generation 
of  candidates  for  the  sacred  office,  and  by  their  means 
to  the  hearts  of  many  others,  and  thus  effect  a  happy 
revolution  in  the  current  of  our  affairs. 

VIII.  Let  me,  once  more,  intreat  you  to  consider,  as 
a  further  argument  on  this  subject,  that  our  country, 
and  especially  some  part  of  it,  stand  in  need  oj  nothing 
at  this  moment  (next  to  the  sanctifying  grace  of  God) 
so  much  as  a  larger  supply  of  truly  ahle^  pious^  and 
ivell-trained  ministers  of  the  Gospel. 

There  is,  in  my  opinion,  a  great  and  grievous  mistake 
prevailing  in  regard  to  this  matter.  Many  youthful 
and  unfurnished  candidates  for  the  ministry  profess  to 
be  anxious  to  get  into  the  field  of  labour,  because,  say 
they,  "  the  harvest  is  so  great  and  the  labourers  so  few." 
They  feel  for  the  spiritual  desolation  which  they  witness, 
and  of  which  they  hear.  They  figure  to  themselves  thou- 
sands "  perishing  for  lack  of  vision ;"  and  they  some- 
times imagine  that,  in  circumstances  so  urgent,  it 
would  be  almost  criminal  in  them  to  remain  poring  over 
their  books,  while  so  many  souls  are  passing  daily  into 
eternity,  without  any  to  tell  them  of  Him  "  whose 
blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  But  this  reasoning  is 
founded  on  a  total  misapprehension.  "  The  harvest  is 
indeed  great,"  and  it  is  distressing  to  think  that  the 
"  labourers  are  so  few."  The  harvest,  however,  is  not 
greater  than  it  was  in  the  days  of  our  Lord's  personal 
ministry.  Tlie  whole  world  was  then  in  a  state  of  even 
more  complete  moral  desolation  than  at  present.    And 


29 

yet  He  did  not  think  proper  to  enter  upon  his  pubhc 
ministry  until  he  was  full  "  thirty  years  of  age."  The 
harvest  is  not  greater,  or  more  distressingly  in  need  of 
labourers,  than  it  was  in  the  days  of  Paul;  and  yet 
that  holy  man,  immediately  taught  of  God,  would  re- 
ceive "  no  novice"  to  the  work  of  the  ministry,  would 
"  lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man,"  even  for  the  purpose 
of  sending  forth  a  messenger  of  life  to  the  perishing. 
'J'he  number  of  ministers,  my  beloved  Pupils,  is  unspeak- 
ably less  important  than  their  character.  There  is 
indeed,  the  most  pressing  want  of  more  labourers  to  go 
forth  and  feed  the  destitute  and  perishing  millions  in 
every  part  of  our  revolted  world.  But  I  will  venture 
to  say,  there  is  a  still  greater  want  of  well  qualified 
labourers,  in  whom  piety,  wisdom,  prudence,  zeal  and 
learning  are  conspicuously  united.  One  such  man  will 
really  be  likely  to  do  more  good — far  more  good — than 
fifty  unqualified  men,  or  men  not  furnished,  in  some 
measure,  as  public  teachers  and  guides  ought  to  be. 
One  such  man  as  Brainerd^  or  Edwards^  or  Buchanan^ 
or  Martyn,  would  be  really  more  useful  to  the  Church, 
and  to  their  generation,  than  many  scores  of  weak  and 
ignorant  men,  and  especially  men  of  dubious  piety, 
under  the  name  of  ministers.  So  the  word  of  God 
teaches ;  and  so  we  judge  concerning  other  professions. 
Suppose  a  population  of  ten  thousand  families  to  be 
labouring  under  a  contagious  and  mortal  disease. 
Would  it  be  better  to  send  among  them  half  a  dozen 
wise  and  skillful  Physicians,  or  fifty  or  even  a  hundred 
miserable  quacks,  who  would  be  likely  to  kill  more  than 
they  would  cure  1  Surely  no  thinking  man  can  hesitate 
a  moment  about  the  proper  answer.  The  truth  is; 
there  are  unqualified  men  enough  in  the  ministry. 
Other  denominations  are  furnishing  them  in  abundantly 
sufficient  numbers.    The  task  seems  to  be  incumbent 


on  us,  under  God,  to  train  up  for  the  service  of  the 
Church,  ministers  of  a  more  mature,  scriptural  and 
elevated  character  ;  and  if  the  proper  qualifications  are 
not  insisted  on,  and  provided  for  by  our  Church  ;  if  the 
great  mass  of  those  sent  out  by  us,  are  not  able  as  well 
as  pious  and  faithful  "  ministers  of  the  New  Testament," 
I  know  of  no  denomination  of  Christians  likely  to  sup- 
ply the  deficiency. 

Look  abroad,  my  young  friends,  upon  this  nation,  in 
all  its  settlements,  in  the  length  and  breadth  of  them. 
Contemplate  the  number,  the  character,  and  the  wants 
of  our  population.  Behold  the  melancholy  reign  of 
ignorance  and  vice.  Contemplate  the  learning,  the 
boldness,  and  the  industry  of  heresy  on  every  side. 
Mark  well  the  prevalence,  the  unwearied  diligence,  and 
the  eloquence  of  infidehty.  Think  how  much  able 
ivriting,  as  well  as  skilful  and  powerful  preaching,  is 
called  for  by  the  shrewd  and  hostile  millions  within  our 
widely  extended  territory.  Advert  for  a  moment,  to 
the  mighty  influence  which  the  press  is  destined  to 
exert  over  this  people,  and  how  deadly  that  influence 
must  be,  if  it  be  not  guided  and  sanctified  by  the  Reli- 
gion of  Jesus  Christ.  Think  of  the  interests  of  litera- 
ture as  well  as  of  piet?/.  Count  the  number  of  the 
youth  who  are  to  be  trained  up  either  for  usefulness  and 
heaven,  or  profligacy  and  perdition.  Ponder  well  the 
necessities  of  our  Seminaries  of  learning,  if  they  are  to 
be  made  a  blessing  and  not  a  curse.  Look  at  these 
things,  beloved  Candidates  for  the  holy  ministry,  and 
consider  seriously  what  must  be  the  consequence,  with- 
out a  series  of  miracles,  unless  the  young  soldiers  now 
coming  forward  to  the  service  of  the  Church  take  care 
to  be  adequately  girded  for  the  mighty  warfare  before 
them ; — and  if  your  "  spirits  are  not  stirred  within  you" 
by  the  sight,  to  take  high  aims  in  preparing  for  your 


31 

Work  ,  to  aspire  to  elevated  atlainnients  in  knowledge, 
and  in  piety,  you  are  but  ill  fitted  for  this  age,  or  for  the 
office  which  you  seek. 

With  these  impressions,  when  I  see  young  men, 
under  the  notion  of  serving  the  Church,  and  of  supply- 
ing the  urgent  demand  for  ministers,  prematurely,  and 
without  proper  furniture,  pressing  into  the  pulpit,  instead 
of  rejoicing,  I  mourn.  They  may  have  pious  intentions, 
and  may  sincerely  think  they  are  promoting  the  welfare 
of  the  Church :  but  they  are  preparing,  in  all  probabi- 
lity, to  inflict  upon  it  a  real  injury.  They  may  think  "  the 
Lord  hath  need  of  them."  But  they  are  deceived. 
The  Lord  is  a  God  of  order,  and  not  of  confusion,  in  all 
his  Churches.  He  has  never  made  mental  imbecility, 
ignorance,  rashness,  and  incompetence,  proper  qualifi- 
cations for  doing  his  work.  If  « the  Lord  had  need  of 
them,"  he  would  not  only  open  the  door  for  their  en- 
trance, but  would  also  qualify  them  for  their  work.  In 
short,  it  cannot  be  too  strongly  impressed  on  the  mind 
of  the  youthful  candidate  for  the  sacred  office,  that  it  is 
not  mere  additions  to  our  numbers — a  larger  list  of 
ministers  of  any  6ort  that  we  need  ;  but  more  ministers 
of  the  right  stamp ;  men  really  fitted  by  the  union  of 
holy  zeal,  sound  wisdom,  and  solid  knowledge,  to 
enlighten,  counsel,  guide,  and  bless  the  Church ;  and 
that  if  they  be  essentially  wanting  in  the  qualifications 
necessary  for  this  purpose,  they  had  better  be  in  any 
other  profession  than  that  of  the  holy  ministry.  The 
truth  is,  if  we  had  but  half  our  present  number  of  min- 
isters^ yet,  if  THAT  HALF  wcrc  all  men  of  the  primitive, 
APOSTOLIC  SPIRIT,  our  beloved  Church  and  country^ 
would  be  far  more  richly  blessed  than  they  are  at  this 
hour.  We  should  soon  witness  scenes  which  have  sel- 
dom greeted  the  eyes  of  Christ's  ambassadors,  since  the 
days  of  apostolic  zeal  and  triumph. 


S2 

The  inference  from  all  this,  is,  that  every  candidate 
for  the  holy  ministry  who  desires  to  serve  the  Church 
of  Christ  in  the  most  acceptable  and  useful  manner ; 
who  wishes  to  be  a  rich  and  extensive  V)lessing  in  his 
generation ;  who  would  be  suitably  prepared  to  meet 
the  character  and  the  demands  of  the  age  in  which  he 
lives — ought  by  all  means,  if  it  be  possible,  to  go  through 
a  regular  and  mature  course  of  preparatory  study ;  that 
lie  is  bound  to  exert  himself  to  the  utmost  to  attain  this 
object ;  that  his  duty  to  God,  to  the  Church,  to  his 
country,  and  to  himself — all  conspire  to  show  the  crivii- 
nality^  as  well  as  i\\e  folly  of  resting  contented  with  any 
thing  short  of  it,  if  it  be  within  his  reach. 

And  by  going  through  a  "  regular  and  full  course  of 
study,"  I  do  not  mean  a  mere  nominal  course ;  but  a 
real,  and  faithful  devotion  to  the  prescribed  studies, 
during  the  whole  time  assigned  for  them.  Students 
may  be  three  full  years  in  a  Seminary,  and  yet,  by  that 
unsteadiness  of  application,  which  is  either  the  original 
■weakness,  or  the  unhappily  contracted  habit  of  so  many 
serious  young  men  ; — by  yielding  to  every  solicitation, 
which  wears  the  remotest  aspec^  of  a  call  of  Providence, 
to  break  in  upon  their  daily  task  ;  by  accepting  agencies, 
which  commence  a  little  before,  and  extend  a  little 
beyond  the  limits  of  their  vacations  ;  by  allowing  almost 
any  plausible  object,  either  of  curiosity  or  of  business  to 
prevent  their  punctual  return  at  the  opening  of  each 
session  ;  by  forming  engagements  of  different  kinds,  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  the  Seminary,  which  frequently, 
and  perhaps  statedly,  interfere  with  some  of  its  appoin- 
ted duties;  by  attending  anniversaries,  and  other  reli- 
gious meetings ;  and  in  ways  almost  too  numerous  to  be 
specified,  scarcely  suffering  a  month  or  even  a  week  to 
pass,  without  permitting  some  unnecessary  inroads  to 
be  made  on  the  time  professedly  devoted  to  study  ; — I 


33 

say,  ill  tliese  ways,  they  may  reduce  the  real  value 
of  their  vnminal  three  years,  to  what  a  student  of 
diligent  habits  would  easily  have  found  in  two-thirds^  or 
even  in  one-half  of  that  tinrie.  Remember  that  a  pre- 
scribed time  and  course  of  study,  are  merely  deceptive, 
if  they  be  not  as  diligently  and  constantly  occupied  as 
health  will  permit.  God  forbid,  my  young  friends,  that 
I  should  discourage  your  attention,  even  now,  to  any 
proper  object  connected  with  the  eternal  well-being  of 
your  fellow  men.  But  recollect  that  "  for  every  thing 
there  is  a  season,  and  a  time  for  every  purpose  under 
heaven."  Remember  that  you  have  come  hither  to 
prepare  for  the  ministry,  not  to  commence  its  duties' 
Remember  that  engagements  out  of  the  Seminary,  even 
of  a  religious  nature^  may  be  improper  for  you  at  pre- 
sent;  and  that  they  certainly  are  so,  if  they  are  either 
unseasonable  or  excessive  in  their  encroachments  on 
your  time  ;  or  if  they  are  calculated,  in  any  way,  mate- 
rially to  interfere  with  the  regular  course  of  study,  which 
you  have  voluntarily  brought  yourselves  under  solemn 
obligations  to  pursue. 

Prize  every  moment,  then,  of  your  three  years  course 
as  a  precious  treasure.  Avoid  wasting  one  of  those 
moments  with  as  much  care  as  a  miser  would  avoid 
throwing  away  a  piece  of  gold.  Rely  upon  it,  you  have 
not  a  moment  to  lose.  Your  whole  time  will  be  found 
too  little  for  the  great  objects  which  you  profess  to  have 
in  \iew.  Constantly  bear  in  mind  the  purpose  for 
which  our  venerable  Church  has  incurred  the  expense 
of  founding  and  supporting  this  Institution,  and  also  the 
professed  purpose  for  which  you  have  entered  it ;  and 
recollect  that  every  engagement,  either  in  or  out  of  this 
house,  which  is  not  really  subservient  to  the  great  ob- 
ject for  which  you  have  come  hither,  is  something  like 
a,  fraud  uprm  your  own  conscienceB,  and  upon  the 

E 


6-L 

Church  who  claims  your  time,  your  talents,  and  your 
best  services,  as  all  her  own. 

Whatever  may  be  the  grade  of  your  talents  my  young 
friends,  or  the  peculiar  character  of  your  minds,  respec- 
tively, the  course  which  I  recommend  may  be  said  to 
be  equally  necessary  to  you  all.  On  the  one  hand, 
those  whose  powers  are  of  the  moderate  and  solid  kind, 
rather  than  the  brilliant, — and  this  has  been  the  charac- 
ter of  some  of  the  most  eminently  useful  men  that  ever 
lived — ought  to  be  aware  that  they  need  all  the  excite- 
ment, the  invigoration,  and  the  culture  which  the  most 
mature  and  diligent  study  can  give  them.  And,  on  the 
other  hand,  those  who  are  endowed  with  remarkably 
lively,  vigorous,  and  even  brilliant  talents,  should  recol- 
lect that  they  need  all  that  I  have  been  recommending, 
on  some  accounts,  even  more  than  others.  For  I  hold 
that  no  class  of  men  are  more  likely  to  do  harm  in  the 
sacred  office,  than  your  striking,  splendid,  popular 
preachers,  who  have  power  to  excite  strong  feelings, 
but  not  wisdom,  prudence,  and  knowledge  enough  to 
regulate  and  direct  them.  A  ship  that  carries  much 
sail,  and  but  little  lading,  is  always  in  more  danger  in 
traversing  the  Ocean,  than  the  vessel  which  spreads 
less  canvass  to  the  winds,  and  at  the  same  time  bears 
an  equal,  or  even  a  less  cargo.  An  ample  lading  is,  of 
course,  more  necessary  to  the  safety  of  the  former  than 
of  the  latter.  Let  no  candidate  for  the  ministry,  then, 
imagine  that  the  sprightliness  and  force  of  his  talents  can 
supercede  the  necessity  of  mature  study.  Nay,  so  far 
from  this,  careful  study  and  training  are,  to  him,  on 
that  very  account,  the  more  indispensable.  The  more 
vigorous,  powerful  and  active  his  mind,  the  more  he 
needs  the  directing,  restraining,  and  sanctifying  influ- 
ence of  much  study,  prayer,  retired  communion  with 
God,  and^  counsel  with  age  and  experience.    Withoui 


35 

these,  iie  is  in  far  more  danger  than  the  man  of  dull 
and  feeble  powers,  of  falling  into  the  varied  evils  which 
are  apt  to  flow  from  eccentricity,  impetuosity,  or  the 
pride  of  talent. 

I  hope  no  one  will  so  far  misunderstand  my  main 
purpose  in  this  Lecture,  as  to  suppose  that  I  would  bind 
every  theological  student  to  pursue  the  course  which 
has  been  recommended ;  or  that  I  would  refuse  admis- 
sion to  the  sacred  office  to  all,  without  exception,  who 
have  not  enjoyed  this  privilege.  The  contrary  may  be 
inferred  from  several  things  which  I  have  said,  but  I 
choose  to  be  explicit  on  this  point.  The  old  law  maxim, 
Summum  jus,  summa  injuria,  may  be  applied  here. 
To  press  a  general  principle  too  far,  is  to  pervert .  and 
abuse  it.  Some  have  not  health  enough  to  sustain 
them  in  such  a  course  as  has  been  urged.  Others  are 
unavoidably  shut  out,  by  the  Providence  of  God,  from 
that  measure  of  temporal  support  which  is  indispensa- 
ble to  their  prosecuting  such  a  plan  of  preliminary  study 
as  they  themselves  earnestly  desire.  In  such  cases, 
if  there  be  uncommon  ardour  of  piety,  joined  with  un- 
common judiciousness,  prudence  and  zeal,  they  ought 
to  be  admitted,  after  a  shorter  and  more  imperfect 
course  of  study  than  is  commonly  and  properly  deemed 
regular.  Still,  in  every  such  case,  the  privation  of  the 
opportunity  of  mature  study  ought  to  be  regarded  by 
the  individual  himself,  and  by  all  his  friends — and  will 
be  regarded  by  both,  if  they  have  good  sense — as  a 
serious  disadvantage  ;  a  disad,vantage  to  which  nothing 
short  of  necessity  should  induce  him  to  submit;  and 
which  can  scarcely  fail  to  abridge,  and,  in  all  probability, 
very  materially,  the  usefulness  as  well  as  the  comfort 
of  all  his  ministrations. 

Besides  ;  let  it  be  considered,  that,  after  doing  all 
we  can  to  raise  the  standard  of  Ministerial  Education 


and  Character,  there  will  still  be  some,  and,  ijideed,  a 
considerable  number,  of  those  whom  we  attempt  to 
conform  to  it,  who  will  fall  far  short  of  this  standard. 
Just  as  in  a  College — with  the  best  system  of  instruction, 
and  the  best  teachers  in  the  world,  there  will  always  be 
some  indifferent  and  even  poor  scholars.  But,  surely, 
it  is  desirable  to  have  as  few  of  these  as  possible,  and 
the  system  of  instruction  should  be  so  framed  and  ap- 
plied, as  to  lift  up  as  many  as  possible  to  the  highest 
grade  of  excellence.  In  like  manner,  too,  in  a  field  of 
corrii  with  the  best  plan  of  culture  that  ever  was  or  can 
be  adopted,  there  will  be  some  feeble  and  small  ears  of 
grain.  But  what  then?  Because  there  always  luill  be 
such,  in  spite  of  every  thing  that  the  best  liusbandman 
can  do,  would  it  be  wise  in  him  to  lay  his  plan  in  such  a 
manner  as  should  be  calculated  to  make  his  whole  crop 
to  consist  of  stunted  and  miserable  ears  ]  Common 
sense  says,  no.  The  Governors  of  the  College  will  not 
utterly  reject  even  the  poor  scholars ;  but  try  to  make 
the  best  of  them.  Neither  will  the  wise  cultivator  of 
the  soil  throw  away  the  small  and  inferiour  ears ;  but 
both  will  endeavour  so  to  conduct  the  culture  of  their 
respective  objects,  as  to  have  as  few  as  may  be  of  infe- 
riour character.  Let  the  standard  be  as  high  as  possi- 
sible,  and  let  the  aim  be  to  bring  as  many  up  to  it  as 
possible,  without  despising  or  rejecting  those  who  can- 
not be  raised  to  the  desired  elevation. 

I  have  no  fear  that  any  of  those  whom  I  now  address, 
will  suspect  me  of  a  design  to  recommend  a  cold  and 
heartless  erudition  in  the  Gospel  ministry.  On  this 
subject,  my  own  opinion,  and  that  of  my  Colleagues,  has 
been  so^often  and  so  decisively  expressed,  as  to  preclude 
the  possibility  of  misapprehension.  Unfeigned  piety — 
deep,  ardent,  active  piety  is,  no  doubt,  the  most  essen- 
tial qualification, — the  most  precious  and  glorious  orna.- 


37 

ment  of  the  ministerial  character.  Though  a  minister 
had  all  the  learning  in  the  world,  yet  if  he  were  a  stran- 
ger to  the  converting  and  sanctifying  grace  of  God, 
there  would  be  no  reason  to  expect  him  to  prove  a 
blessing  to  the  Church.  The  men  whom  we  wish  to 
see  trained  up  for  the  service  of  the  Church,  are  men 
of  devoted  and  fervent  piety;  enlightened  and  warm 
friends  to  revivals  of  religion ;  men  qualified  and  dis- 
posed to  take  an  active  part  in  forwarding  all  the  lauda- 
ble Christian  Institutions  of  the  present  day  ;  and,  at  the 
same  time,  so  solidly  judicious  ;  so  intimately  acquainted 
with  the  Bible,  with  the  system  of  grace,  with  the  history 
of  the  Church,  and  with  the  human  heart,  as  will  prepare 
them  at  once,  with  enlightened  discrimination  and  zeal, 
to  promote  all  that  is  good ;  and  to  discern  and  resist 
every  thing  of  a  contrary  tendency,  whether  it  appear 
in  the  form  of  "  an  angel  of  light,"  or  of  darkness.  Such 
is  the  ecclesiastical  training  for  which  1  plead.  Such  is 
the  model  which,  next  to  that  of  the  Chief  Shepherd,  I 
would  hold  up  to  your  view,  and  commend  to  your  sacred 
emulation.  Let  your  aims  be  high.  Not  high,  indeed, 
on  the  scale  of  secular  ambition ;  not  high  to  be  merely, 
or  chiefly,  great  scholars,  to  be  admired  as  profound 
Divines,  to  shine  as  consummate  orators,  to  "have 
the  uppermost  rooms  at  feasts,"  or  to  be  "  called  of 
men.  Rabbi,  Rabbi.''  But  let  your  sanctified  emulation 
be  awake  and  active  to  be  able  and  faithful  work- 
men ;  to  be  skilful  as  well  as  courageous  "  soldiers  of 
Christ ;"  to  be  "  mighty  in  the  Scriptures ;"  mighty  in 
the  knowledge  of  "  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the 
saints ;"  mighty  in  the  history  of  the  Church ;  mighty 
in  wisdom,  prudence,  holy  love,  and  active  zeal ;  in  a 
word,  mighty  in  that  noble,  comprehensive  character 
given  by  the  pen  of  inspiration  to  a  minister  of  old — 


38 

"  He  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
*'  of  faith,  and  much  people  was  added  to  the  Lord." 

What  do  the  pages  of  eccleciastical  history  say  on 
this  subject  7  What  description  of  ministers,  in  all  ages, 
have  been  found  most  eminently  useful  to  the  Church  of 
Christ  1  Unquestionably  those  in  whom  eminent  piety, 
zeal,  talents  and  learning  were  remarkably  united  ?  Let 
the  history  of  the  Apostle  Paul; — let  the  character  and 
services  of  ,dugusiine,  of  ^Bmhrose  of  Milan^  of  venera- 
ble Bede^  of  Wickliffe,  of  Huss,  of  Luther^  of  Calvin,  of 
Knox^  oi  Rivet,  of  Owen,  of  Baxter,  of  Doddridge,  and 
to  mention  no  more,  of  our  own  Dickinson  and  Edward.'i, 
be  pondered  well ;  and  they  will  convince  the  most  scep- 
tical, that,  though  men  of  mere  piety  may,  and  probably 
will  be,  the  means  of  saving  good  to  some  souls  ;  and 
though  mere  talents  and  learning  may  answer  another 
very  limited  purpose  ;  it  is  only  the  union  of  both,  in  an 
eminent  degree,  that  can  give  a  reasonable  pledge  of 
that  deep,  extensive,  and  permanent  usefulness  to  the 
Church  of  God,  to  which  every  man  of  the  right  spirit 
Avill  not  fail  to  aspire. 

f  wish  it  were  in  my  power,  my  young  friends,  to 
impart  to  your  minds  the  full  impression  which  my  otvn 
has  received  of  the  importance  of  this  subject.  Perhaps 
I  ought  rather  to  say,  I  feel  humbled  that  it  is  necessary 
to  plead  such  a  cause  before  such  an  audience.  And 
nothing  could  ever  have  convinced  me  that  such  a  ne- 
nessity  exists,  but  the  direful  and  daily  experience 
which  proclaims  it ; — but  the  disheartening  fact,  that  so 
many  of  your  number  manifest  that  you  are  not  yet 
satisfied  of  the  truth  which  I  have  been  labouring  to 
establish.  How  long,  my  beloved  Pupils,  shall  this 
humiliating  fact  continue  to  stare  us  in  the  face  ?  How 
long  shall  the  concurring  voice  of  youth  and  of  age,  of 


39 

remonstrance  and  of  authority,  continue  to  plead  in 
vain  on  this  subject]  How  long  shall  young  men  of 
talents  worth  cultivating,  and  of  piety  which  ought  to 
secure  a  conscientious  regard  to  their  cultivation,  con- 
tinue to  cheat  themselves,  and  cheat  the  Church  of 
God,  by  neglecting  to  prepare  for  her  service  ;  nay  by 
thrusting  themselves  into  that  service,  while  "novices," 
and  even  "babes  in  Christ,"  when  they  ought  to  be 
"  strong  men  ?"  Whatever  you  may  think  of  it  now, 
be  assured,  you  will,  one  day,  find  that  it  is  no  light 
matter.  You  will  find  that  it  is  a  subject  which  regards, 
not  merely  the  promotion  of  sound  theological  learning, 
but  the  advancement  of  the  vital  interests  of  the  Church 
of  Christ :  not  merely  the  honour  of  our  own  denomi- 
nation, which  I  hope  will  never  be  a  matter  of  small 
moment  in  your  eyes ;  but  the  spiritual  prosperity  of 
the  whole  family  of  the  Redeemer  on  earth. 

For  my  part,  so  long  as  I  see  so  many  candidates  for 
the  holy  ministry  contenting  themselves  with  superfi- 
cial and  totally  inadequate  preparation  for  their  exalted 
and  arduous  work ;  and  so  many  actually  venturing 
forth  to  that  work  with  qualifications  which  fit  them  to 
be  only  transient  meteors,  and  very  humble  ones  too, 
rather  than  bright  and  steady  luminaries  in  the  Church 
of  God ; — I  cannot  suppose  that  the  Millennium  is  very 
near.  I  believe  that  that  time  will  be  as  much  distin- 
guished for  mature  ministerial  preparation,  as  for  minis- 
terial holiness,  zeal,  fidelity,  and  activity.  If  you  desire, 
then,  to  hasten  on  that  glorious  period ;  if  you  desire, 
each  one  of  you,  to  contribute  as  much  as  possible 
towards  preparing  the  world  for  its  arrival ;  then  give 
all  diligence  to  imbibe  the  spirit,  and  rise  to  something 
of  the  elevation,  which  that  period  will  assuredly  put  in 
requisition.  Be  not  contented  with  any  thing  short  of 
sucii  furniture,   both  intellectual  and  moral,  as  will 


40 

quulify  you  to  acL  a  part  in  harmony  with  the  high  com- 
mission which  you  hope  to  receive,  and  to  be  "  workers 
together  with  God"  in  enhghtening  and  blessing  the 
world. 

Finally ;  although  I  cannot  anticipate,  beloved  Pupils, 
what  effect  this  earnest  appeal  may  produce  on  your 
minds ; — especially  when  it  was  productive  of  so  little 
sensible  eflfect  on  your  predecessors,  eight  years  ago;* — 
yet  allow  me  to  say,  I  shall  not  have  gained  my  purpose, 
to-day,  unless  you  let  your  Professors  enjoy  the  pleasure 
of  witnessing,  from  this  time,  a  new  and  sacred  im- 
pulse pervading  your  ranks.  Unless  we  shall  witness, 
henceforth,  a  unanimous  determination,  to  think  of  no 
term  of  study  short  of  three  years ; — to  fill  up  every 
hour  of  this  term  with  diligent  application ; — to  attend 
with  punctuality  at  the  opening,  and  to  hold  out,  with 
undeviating  perseverance,  to  the  closing  hour,  of  every 
session ; — to  guard  with  solicitous  care  against  the  loss 
of  a  single  recitation  or  lecture; — to  cherish  a  hallowed 
greedniess  for  every  kind  of  theological  knowledge, 
especially  that  which  is  practical  and  experimental  -, — 
to  be  in  no  haste  to  solicit  license  to  preach  ; — in  short, 
to  guard  with  conscientious  care,  against  the  miserable 
delusion  that  "  the  Lord  hath  need"  of  but  half  qualified 
servants.  Nay,  I  sliall  not  consider  myself  as  having 
addressed  you  with  the  desired  effect,  unless  we  shall 
have  the  satisfaction  of  finding  some  of  your  number 
disposed  to  spend  not  merely  three  years,  but  a  fourth, 
and  a  few  even  a  fifth  year,  within  these  walls,  for  the 
purpose  of  more  profound  Biblical  and  Theological  study 
than  seems  now  to  be  seriously  thought  of  by  any. 
And,  let  me  add,  that  as  soon  as  a  disposition  of  this 
kind  shall  be  manifested  by  any  of  the  sons  of  the 

*  The  substance  of  (his  Lecture  was  delivered  at  the  opening  of  (be 
vinter  Session  io  the  Seminary,  >'ov.  9lb,  \^21. 


4r 

Church,  I  have  no  doubt  provision  will  be  made  for  its 
encouragement  and  support.  We  have  a  number  of 
Scholarships,  founded  by  the  pious  liberality  of  distin- 
guished friends  of  the  Seminary,  and  destined  for  the 
aid  of  those  who  are  pursuing  the  regular  course  pre- 
scribed in  the  Institution.  But  we  have,  as  yet,  no 
Fellowships,  or  Funds  specifically  devoted  to  the  support 
of  students  w  ho  may  be  desirous  of  pursuing  a  course  of 
study  considerably  more  extensive  than  that  which  is 
laid  do\vn  equally  for  all,  and  recommended  to  alL 
Only,  however,  let  a  few  individuals  manifest  such  a 
thirst  for  sacred  knowledge,  and  such  a  devoted  and 
successful  diligence  in  seeking  it,  as  shall  evidently 
render  Felloivships  desirable  and  necessary,  and  we 
shall  very  soon,  I  am  confident,  see  one  or  more  of 
them  established.  Be  it  the  laudable  distinction  of  some 
of  YOU,  then,  my  young  friends,  to  set  the  first  example 
of  this  high  resolution.  It  is  needed.  We  must  have 
IT.  How  else  shall  we  hope  to  see  honourably  and 
usefully  filled  the  numerous  Professoral  Chairs,  in  the 
several  Theological  Seminaries  which  are  rising  in 
every  part  of  our  land  1  How  else  can  we  reasonably 
expect  that  our  highly  favoured  and  indebted  Church 
will  perform  her  part  of  the  duty  which  she  owes  to 
Christendom,  in  promoting  the  culture  of  profound  Bib- 
lical and  Theological  knowledge  1  Surely  these  are  con- 
siderations which  cannot  fail  of  lying  with  weight  on  the 
minds  of  some  whom  I  address.  That  they  will  rouse 
none  of  you  to  corresponding  aims  and  efforts,  is  a  sup- 
position which  I  cannot  possibly  admit. 

And  may  He  who  "  has  the  hearts  of  all  flesh  in  liis 
hands"  so  enlighten  and  govern  your  minds  ;  so  preside 
over  your  studies ;  and  so  endow  you  with  gifts  and 
graces  adapted  to  the  day  of  wonders  in  which  you 
live; — that  yo\i  may  fulfil  the  high  expectations  of  the 


42 

Presbyterian  Church  while  you  are  here ; — and  thai, 
wherever  you  go,  you  may  each  be  found  a  centre  of 
Jioly  illumination,  of  wise  counsel,  and  of  sanctified  im- 
pulse in  extending  the  Redeemer's  kingdom ;  so  that 
the  blessing  of  the  Church,  and  of  distant  generations 
may  abundantly  come  upon  you !  "  The  grace  of  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  be  with  vou  all !"     Amen. 


